Sliding door



Nov. 10, 1964 w. J. HORGAN, JR

SLIDING DOOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 21, 1962 INVNTOR w/LL/AM HORGA N, ./R.

SMQ

ATTORNEY Nov. l0, 1964 w. J. HORGAN, JR

SLIDING DOOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 2l 1962 INVENTOR lv, JR.

WILL/AM J. HRGA ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,156,020 SLKDING DOOR William J. Horgan, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa., assigner to Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Nov. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 239,109 7 Claims. (Cl. 21h-19) This invention is directed to improved means for mounting a horizontal sliding door on an overhead track, and to an improved sliding glass door assembly.

The arrangements of the prior art for mounting sliding doors on overhead tracks, particularly in the case of large doors having heavy glass panels, are generally awkward from the Viewpoints of original installation, replacement of the glass panels, and adjustment of the door in height. This is especially true if the mounting means is concealed, and if not conceaied the mounting means usually detracts from the architectural appearance.

An object of the present invention is to provide irnproved means for supporting a sliding door from an overhead track, such that the door may be mounted, removed, or adjusted more easily and quickly than is the case with prior art sliding doors. Another object is to provide such means which is completely concealed, without the need for access from either face of the door so that an attractive sliding glass door can be provided which has an uninterrupted smooth frame all around the glass panel on both surfaces of the door.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in combination with the above, improved weatherseal means t fill the space between the top of .the door and its overhead track.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the appended drawings showing portions of a sliding glass door and its overhead support constructed in accordance with my invention.

FIGURE l is a fragmentary elevation of an upper corner portion of a horizontal sliding door and its overhead support.

FIGURE 2 is a section taken on line 2 2 of FIG- URE l.

FIGURE 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of FIG- URE 2, omitting the top weatherseal.

FIGURE 4 is an exploded fragmentary View in perspective of some of the elements of the assembly.

Referring lirst to the structure ot the door frame, top rail 19 (see FIG. 4) is of tubular extruded construction, preferably of aluminum, with a logitudinal cavity or hollow upper portion 20 formed with a specially shaped top web 18, flat side webs 21 and 22, and a specially shaped bottom web 23. Side webs 21, 22 extend below bottom web 23 to provide a lower channel 24 for a snapin rabbet 25 which, as shown in FIG. 2, receives a glazing channel 26 for holding the upper edge of a glass panel 2'7.

Top web 18 is formed with a dove-tail type recess 28, open upwardly throughout the length of the top rail, by means of an integral U-shaped portion 23 of web 18 which depends from at upper portions 18a, 13b thereof, inwardly of side webs 21, 22 and outwardly of the space between the inner edges of portions 18a, 18h. Extending inwardly from the end of top rail 19 a certain distance in the bottom of U-shaped portion 29 is a slot 30, the purpose of which is explained below.

Stile 31 is approximately I-shaped in transverse cross section with a iiat vertical central web 32 and thick side webs or iianges 33 and 34, thus providing a channel on each side of web 32. The inner channel is provided with a snap-in rabbet and glazing channel (not shown) similar to 25 and 26 of the top rail, and these receive the ad- Patented Nov. 10, 1964 "ice jacent side edge of glass panel 27 in the assembled door. A wide slot 35 is formed in web 32, extending down from the top of stile 31 a distance equal to most of the depth or vertical height of hollow tubular portion 20 of top rail 19 in the assembled door, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, the end of top rail 19 lits snugly between inner surface portions of flanges 33 and 34 and is drawn tightly against web 32 by studs 36, which as indicated in FIG. 4 are threaded into thick portions of web 23 of the top rail. Thus, a rigid top corner joint is provided for the door. At the same time the upper corner of the door is provided with an opening in the adjacent vertical end of the door through vertical slot 35, into the hollow tubular, longitudinally extending space 20 which underlies the horizontal slot 30 in the top rail. This construction makes it possible to insert the lower portion of a roller support assembly depending from overhead track 12 longitudinally into top rail 19 from the end of the door, as explained below. A snap-in cover 37, extending the full height of stile 31, provides a removable, smooth-surface end cover for the door to conceal the above-described corner structure and the below-described support structure housed therein.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, door 10 is slidingly supported from track 12 by a removable support assembly comprising a carriage 11, a hanger bolt or rod 15, a support member 17, and an adjusting and locking nut 16. A removable track section 38 held in place by a splice plate 33a provides means for placing the carriage in the track. Track 12 is of inverted U-shape in transverse cross section, with a pair of inwardly extending webs 13 and 14 projecting from the lower ends of the inverted U to provide a pair of spaced track surfaces for the carriage rollers. The carriage supports a hanger rod 15 which depends from the carriage and extends down between the track surfaces into door 10, through slot 30 and an aperture 40 in support member 17. Rod 15 isI threaded along its lower portion and adjusting nut 16 is threadedly mounted thereon below member 17. The support channel or member 17 thus rests on nut 16, and the upper web 18 of tubular top rail 19 of the door rests on support member 17. Upper web 18 thus provides the door with a hangable portion for hanging the door from the carriage. Y

Support member 17 is U-shaped in transverse cross section and has longitudinally extending upper edge portions 39 which, in the assembled condition shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, take up against the lower surfaces of web 18 on opposite sides of the depressed portion 2S thereof,

thus supporting the door. Integral lugs 41 extend upwardly from the inner ends of upper edge portions 39 of member 17, and as best shown in FIG. 3 these extend up through suitably-shaped apertures 42 in respective portions 18a, 18b of the web 18. As best shown in the same figure, slot 30 in web 18 is of a length such that hanger bolt 15 almost takes up against the inner end of v longitudinally into the top rail at assembly (the adjusting nut being lowered to bring lugs 41 below the lower surfaces of web portions 18a, 18h) hanger bolt 15 takes up against theend of slot 30 in just the right position to align lugs 41 with apertures 42, so that upon raising support member 17 with nut 16, lugs 41 automatically tit into apertures 42.

As best shown in FIG. 2 a weatherseal 43, preferably formed of a suitable flexible plastic material, fills the space between the top of door and the bottom of track 12. Weatherseal 43 `is substantially U-shaped in transverse cross section, with parallel side webs extending up between the spaced inner edges of track webs 13, 14, and in close proximity, preferably in light contact respectively therewith. Weatherseal 43 has a horizontally disposed lower web, the latter extending outwardly beyond the parallel side Webs on both sides and tting in the enlarged lower portion of dove-tailed slot 28 of top rail 19. For convenience in mounting the door, the seal 43, which extends the full length of the door top, is made in sections one of which designated 43a ends at the hanger bolt 15 at one of its ends, and at the other end (not shown) at the hanger bolt of a similar support assembly adjacent the other end of the door top. This section 43a, which is a relatively long section, is abutted at each end by a short section, such as section 43b. The ends of the sections are shaped to surround the support rods closely, and to extend over the top of the snap cover 37 so as to end flush with the door edge, thus providing a full length weatherseal. Snap cover 37 holds Weather seal section 43h in place. In fitting the weatherseal, the lower left corner of section 43b is cut back as necessary from the configuration shown in FIG. 4 to make this fit.

To mount the door, two carriages 11, one for each upper corner of the door, are placed in the track, spaced apart slightly more than the door width, and each is fitted with a support member 17 and an adjusting and lock nut 16 on the lower portion of the support bolt or rod 15. The assembled door, with the snap-in covers 37 removed, and with central section 43a of the weatherseal in place in slot 23, is aligned under the track and supported temporarily on wedges or the like, with weatherseal 43a extending slightly up between track portions 13, 14. Then, at each upper corner of the door, the support assembly, with the lugs 41 disposed inwardly, is slid longitudinally into the top corner of the door, the lower portion passing through the opening in the stile, and the U-shaped support member 17, channel side up, passing under the U-shaped portion 29 of top rail 18. The hanger bolt or rod 15 moves through slot 30 to the end of the latter, thus bringing lugs 41 directly under apertures 42. The short end sections 43h of the weatherseal are inserted. Adjusting nut 16 is then screwed upwardly to seat support member 17 in locked position and to lift the door from the temporary support wedges to the desired height. End covers 37 are snapped in place. The support assemblies at the respective ends of the door having been adjusted to the desired height the installation is complete. For removal, the reverse procedure is followed.

ln service, no torque is applied to bolt 1S or nut i6 and the weight of the door automatically locks the support assembly to the door against displacement out of top rail 19.

1t will be seen that I have provided a sliding door assembly with novel support means which makes it very easy to install, remove and adjust the door, which means may be concealed between the unbroken faces of the trarne, and that in conjunction with this I have provided an eiicient weatherseal along the top of the door.

Although I have shown and described only one embodiment of my invention, this is to be regarded as illustrative and not in a limiting sense, the invention being deiined by the claims.

I claim:

l. A sliding door assembly comprising a door supported from an overhead track for horizontal sliding movement therealong and having at an upper corner a tubular top rail with a hollow portion extending inwardly from an opening in the adjacent verti- Cal end of said door,

i an upper web on said rail overlaying said hollow portion, and a slot in said upper web extending inwardly from said opening,

a carriage slidably mounted on said track,

a rod depending from said carriage and extending through said slot into said hollow portion,

and a support member supporting said upper web and mounted on said rod,

said support member being U-shaped in transverse cross-section, having longitudinally extending upper edge portions at the ends of the U, and being horizontally disposed longitudinally in said tubular top rail with said upper edge portions supporting said upper web, and said support member being slidable with said rod out of said hollow portion through said opening when said support member is lowered relative to said upper web and spaced therebelow.

2. A door assembly as defined by claim l, said upper edge portions having upwardly extending lugs which fit in recesses in said upper web.

3. A door assembly as defined by claim l, said overhead track being of inverted U shape in transverse crosssection with a pair of webs extending inwardly from the respective ends of the U to provide track surfaces on opposite sides of said rod, said upper web of the top rail having a dove-tail type recess therealong which is open the full length at the top, said slot being formed in said upper web below said recess, and a weather seal disposed in said recess, said weather seal having upstanding longitudinal webs extending up between said pair of webs of the track and in close proximity, respectively, to the inner edges of the respective of said pair of webs.

4. A sliding door assembly comprising a door supported from an overhead track for horizontal sliding movement therealong and having at an upper corner a tubular top rail with a hollow portion extending inwardly from an opening in the adjacent vertical end of said door, an upper web on said rail overlaying said hollow portion, and a slot in said upper web extending inwardly from said opening,

a carriage slidably mounted on said track,

a rod depending from said carriage and extending through said slot into said hollow portion,

a support member supporting said upper web and mounted on said rod,

said support member being slidable with said rod out of said hollow portion through said opening when said support member is lowered relative to said upper web and spaced therebelow, and an adjusting nut threadably mounted on said rod for vertical adjustment thereon,

said rod extending through said support member and said support member resting on said nut.

5. A door assembly as defined by claim 4, further including vertically interfitting portions on said support member and said upper web, respectively.

6. A sliding door assembly comprising a door supported from an overhead track for horizontal sliding movement therealong and having at an upper corner a tubular top rail with a hollow portion extending inwardly from an opening in the adjacent vertical end of said door, an upper web on said rail overlaying said hollow portion, and a slot in said upper web extending inwardly from said opening,

said overhead track being of inverted U-shape and transverse cross-section with a pair of webs extending inwardly from the respective ends of the U to provide track surfaces, said upper web of the top rail having a dovetail type recess therealong which is open the full length at the top, said slot being formed in said upper web below said recess, a carriage slidably mounted on said track, a rod depending from said carriage and extending through said slot into said hollow portion, a support member supporting said upper web and mounted on said rod,

said support member being slidable with said rod out of said hollow portion through said opening when said support member is lowered relative to said upper web and spaced therebelow, and a Weather seal disposed in said recess, said weather seal having upstanding longitudinal webs extending up between said pair of webs of the track and in close proximity, respectively, to the inner edges of the respective of said pair of webs. 7. A sliding door assembly comprising a door supported from an overhead track for horizontal sliding movement therealong and having at an upper corner a tubular top rail with a hollow portion extending inwardly from an opening in the adjacent vertical end of said door,

an upper web on said rail overlaying said hollow portion,

and a slot in said upper web extending inwardly from said opening,

said upper web of the top rail having a recess therealong which is open the full length at the top, said slot being formed in said upper web below said recess, a carriage slidably mounted on said track, a rod depending from said carriage and extending through said slot into said hollow portion, a support member supporting said upper web and mounted on said rod, and a weather seal disposed in said recess.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A SLIDING DOOR ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A DOOR SUPPORTED FROM AN OVERHEAD TRACK FOR HORIZONTAL SLIDING MOVEMENT THEREALONG AND HAVING AT AN UPPER CORNER A TUBULAR TOP RAIL WITH A HOLLOW PORTION EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM AN OPENING IN THE ADJACENT VERTICAL END OF SAID DOOR, AN UPPER WEB ON SAID RAIL OVERLAYING SAID HOLLOW PORTION, AND A SLOT IN SAID UPPER WEB EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM SAID OPENING, A CARRIAGE SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID TRACK, A ROD DEPENDING FROM SAID CARRIAGE AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOT INTO SAID HOLLOW PORTION, AND A SUPPORT MEMBER SUPPORTING SAID WEB AND MOUNTED ON SAID ROD, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER BEING U-SHAPED IN TRANSVERSE CROSS-SECTION, HAVING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING UPPER EDGE PORTIONS AT THE ENDS OF THE U, AND BEING HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED LONGITUDINALLY IN SAID TUBULAR TOP RAIL WITH SAID UPPER EDGE PORTIONS SUPPORTING SAID UPPER WEB, AND SAID SUPPORT MEMBER BEING SLIDABLE WITH SAID ROD OUT OF SAID HOLLOW PORTION THROUGH SAID OPENING WHEN SAID SUPPORT MEMBER IS LOWERED RELATIVE TO SAID UPPER WEB AND SPACED THEREBELOW. 